Department for Transport

Motorways: Road Signs and Markings

Mr John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that electronic signs on motorways provide information that is up-to-date.

Mr John Hayes: The Highways Agency regularly monitors the accuracy of variable message signs (VMS) on motorways to ensure that information to customers is both as timely and accurate as possible. This is done through a variety of channels, including regular reviews of how incidents on the strategic road network have been managed, and by seeking feedback from customers. The Highways Agency’s seven Regional Control Centres are measured on the speed with which signs (and signals) are set and cleared in response to incidents on the network. This ensures signs are not displaying messages for longer than is necessary following an incident. By improving data flow and processing, the Highways Agency is also looking to further improve the quality and timeliness of all its information services. A new system to be used in the Highways Agency’s National Traffic Operations Centre is currently under testing. The system will speed up the identification of incidents, in turn ensuring even more timely and accurate information can be published on variable message signs and other information services e.g. smartphones and websites.

Motorways: Accidents

Mr John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides to Highways Agency patrol staff on time taken for the restoration of normal running on motorways following accidents.

Mr John Hayes: The Highways Agency is leading CLEAR (Collision, Lead, Evaluate, Act, Re-open) which aims to reduce the time taken to re-open motorways following an incident and will minimise both the economic impact of closures and the delay experienced by road users. Performance information is provided by monthly reporting across the Agency. This information is disseminated to Highways Agency patrol staff by monthly report, which includes tabular, graphical and infographic formats. The current performance measure is average incident duration times. From 1 April 2015 the performance metric will be refined to monitor all incidents between 0600-2200hrs - on the motorway network where a physical closure has occurred, which can be a lane closure, total motorway closure or a rolling closure – all of which results in an effect to the traffic flow. The duration of the closure is recorded and measured with a target of 85% of incidents cleared within 1 hour. This will continue to be monitored and reports disseminated to patrol staff on a monthly basis.

Advertising

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's advertising and communications expenditure was in each month since September 2014; and what that expenditure is forecast to be in March 2015.

Claire Perry: The Department’s largest communications and advertising budget is the THINK! Road Safety campaign budget. Monthly expenditure from this budget since September 2014 is as follows: THINK! Road Safety campaign expenditureSep 2014Oct 2014Nov 2014Dec 2014Jan 2015Feb 2015£546,055£378,125£649,965£703,191£233,230£451,673 Planned expenditure for March 2015 is £2.3m. This includes £1.7m on the current public information campaign on the new drug driving law which came into force on 2 March, and £0.3m on a cycle safety poster campaign in 12 cities with high cyclist casualty figures. Month by month figures for all communications expenditure for the central Department and Executive Agencies can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the contribution to the costs of the construction of High Speed 2 from (a) outside his Department and (b) his Department; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of that contribution on the funding of the remainder of the activities of his Department.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Spending Review 2013 set out a long-term funding envelope for delivering HS2 of £50.1bn (2011 prices), including rolling stock. We expect the project to be delivered within this funding envelope. The project is being taken forward on the basis of being funded by central government. Spending Review 2013 demonstrated the intention of Government to continue investing to enhance and develop our other key transport networks, while also taking forward HS2.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department will publish an updated economic case for High Speed 2.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The most recent update to the HS2 Economic Case was published in October 2013. The Department will continue to keep the Economic Case under review and further updates will be prepared as the programme reaches critical milestones.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what work has been undertaken by (a) his Department and (b) HS2 Ltd in the last two years on the effects on chalk aquifers of tunnelling activities associated with the high speed rail route in the Chilterns.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As part of the Environmental Statement published in November 2013 HS2 Ltd undertook a Water Resources Assessment which included consideration of effects on chalk aquifers in relevant locations. The effects identified can be found in the Environmental Statement Volume 2, CFA 8 and 9, Chapter 13 and Volume 5: Water Resources Assessment for CFA 8 and 9.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of High Speed 2 on (a) the Misbourne, Colne and Chess rivers, (b) chalk acquifers and (c) other bodies of water; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The avoidance and mitigation measures to address any effects of HS2 on water bodies (including the Misbourne, Colne and Chess rivers, and chalk acquifers) are set out in Volume 2 of the Environmental Statement (in Chapter 13 of each Community Forum Area Report) and the Volume 5 Water Resources reports of the Environmental Statement, published in November 2013.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the average cost per mile of high speed rail construction for Phase 1 of High Speed 2 in (a) tunnelled and (b) non-tunnelled sections of the route.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The latest estimates that my Department has for Phase 1 provides an estimated average cost per mile for infrastructure in tunnels at £180m per mile, with non-tunnelled sections of the route being estimated at approximately £70m per mile.

A1(M): Hertfordshire

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to start the feasibility study into widening the A1(M) between junctions six and eight.

Mr John Hayes: Initial work to define the scope of the A1 East of England Strategic Study will start in late March 2015 and an engagement strategy for stakeholders is being developed to commence in early summer.

High Speed Two

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what process his Department uses to externally review the Board of High Speed 2; and if he will place in the Library a copy of all reviews of their activities to date.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Board of High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd operates in accordance with the HS2 Ltd Framework Document. A copy of this document is available on the Gov.UK website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-speed-two-hs2-ltd-framework-document-december-2014

Euston Station

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220507 on plans for High Speed 2, whether a full-scale redevelopment of Euston Station has been abandoned; and whether plans have reverted to Option 8.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Our ambition is to transform Euston for passengers, and make it a new commercial hub for the Capital. Our long term aim is to bring about a comprehensive redevelopment of the station in accordance with Camden Council's Euston Area Plan. Our plan is to deliver this redevelopment in a phased approach that:- minimises disruption to the current station and surrounding area- engages potential investors and businesses- ensures we maintain a dialogue with local residents and businesses.

Tilbury Port

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic effect of the decision by Hapag-Llloyd and Hamburg Sud to transfer operations from the Port of Tilbury to London Gateway.

Mr John Hayes: None. This is a commercial matter for the parties concerned.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department plans to provide to businesses adversely affected by the construction phase of High Speed 2 whose premises are not required for the construction or operation of High Speed 2.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are providing extensive support to those business owners with a qualifying interest, who are affected by Phase 1 of HS2. This support includes Statutory Blight, Express Purchase, the Cash Offer and Voluntary Purchase Schemes (if businesses owners with a qualifying interest lie within the Rural Support Zone), and Home Owner Payments (if businesses owners with a qualifying interest lie within the Home Owner Payment zones). Businesses would also be eligible to claim under Section 10 of the Land Compensation Act 1965 in certain circumstances. The Department has also recently announced a Community and Business Fund worth £30million that will benefit businesses, amongst others.

Railways: Freight

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the future viability of the rail freight line between Felixstowe and Tilbury ports; and when he next plans to meet trades unions to discuss that matter.

Claire Perry: There is no direct rail freight line between Felixstowe and Tilbury, although up to two services a day in each direction operate between the two. Network Rail’s Freight Market Study, published in 2013, forecasts significant growth in the intermodal market, which is likely to benefit each of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Tilbury ports; however, the choice of port for freight deliveries is a commercial matter for the shipping companies. On that basis, I have no current plans to meet trades unions to discuss this issue.

Tilbury Port

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the decision by Hapag-Llloyd and Hamburg Sud to transfer operations from the Port of Tilbury to London Gateway on the local road network.

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by Hapag-Llloyd and Hamburg Sud to transfer operations from the Port of Tilbury to London Gateway on (a) rail and (b) road freight journeys; and what projection his Department has made of how many containers will transfer from rail to road as a result of this decision.

Mr John Hayes: The Department made no specific assessment of these commercial, operational decisions. The impact on local road and rail network will have been assessed as part of the planning process. The London Gateway planning consents require various inland infrastructure works to reflect the scope of the development and the potential levels of business and traffic. This includes works on the A13, Junction 30 of M25, and rail freight links that are to be undertaken when specified threshold levels of port development, and for the associated logistics park, are reached. It is not necessarily the case that the transfer of one contract from Tilbury to London Gateway will affect the overall balance of containers currently sent by rail and road. Like Tilbury, London Gateway is served by rail as well as road. The DfT is supporting financially some rail freight flows from Tilbury and London Gateway in recognition of non-commercialised benefits, such as for the environment, from using rail rather than road for freight.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many barristers have been instructed by (a) his Department and (b) HS2 Ltd to work on the Phase 1 Hybrid Bill Committee; and what the (a) remuneration arrangements, (b) level of qualification and (c) total costs are of such barristers to date.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport has instructed a team of seven barristers to support the HS2 Phase One Hybrid Bill Select Committee. HS2 Ltd has not separately instructed barristers on the Bill. The team of barristers is made up of two Queen’s Counsel (called in 1987 and 1996 respectively), with remaining junior counsel members of the team called in 1997, 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2007 respectively. The team of barristers are remunerated on the basis of government hourly rates agreed with the Attorney General. To support the Select Committee process, we have secured the availability of most of the barristers in the team by means of commitment fees. The current spend to date on barristers to support the Phase One Hybrid Bill Committee is £741,820. This figure covers the period from April 2014, when the petitioning period began, to the end of January 2015 and is exclusive of VAT.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Scotland

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to publish his Department's joint report with the Scottish Government on extending High Speed 2 to Scotland.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Advice prepared by HS2 Ltd in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Transport Scotland and the Scotland Office to identify broad options for high speed and upgraded railways to the north of England and Scotland has been completed and is now with Ministers. This advice will be published in due course.

Bicycles: EU Action

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether an e-bike that complies with EU pedelec regulations with a throttle used to provide a degree of assistance will be exempt from type approval; and what the procedure will be for type approval for throttle-controlled e-bikes.

Claire Perry: Any electric cycle that can be propelled by the use of a throttle has to comply with type approval in accordance with EU Regulation 168/2013. Electric cycles with a maximum motor power of 250 Watts and a maximum assisted speed of 15.5 mph, that provide assistance only when the rider is pedalling are excluded from the requirement to comply with type approval. A manufacturer may obtain type approval in accordance with EU regulation 168/2013, and its Delegated Regulations, from a Type Approval Authority of an EU member state. A manufacturer producing an individual cycle may obtain approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The UK Type Approval Authority is the Vehicle Certification Agency.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the provisions of the Civil Service Code apply to employees of HS2 Ltd.

Mr Robert Goodwill: HS2 Ltd is classified as an Executive NDPB. It is not a Crown Body and therefore employees are not Crown Servants bound by the Civil Service Code. Employees are however Public Servants and are bound by internal policies and procedures that set the general standards and expectations regarding acceptable behaviour that must be adhered to for efficient and safe working in line with guidance issued by the Cabinet Office.

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that toxic oil fumes from aircraft engines are prevented from entering cabins and cockpits and posing risks to pilots, cabin crew and passengers.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave my Hon Friend, the Hon. Member for Cardiff North (Jonathan Evans) on 4 March 2015, UIN 225506.http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons&uin=225506

Railway Stations: Scotland

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which railway stations his Department discussed with the Scottish Government during the process of approving Access for All funding from 2006 to 2014.

Claire Perry: Since 2006, a large number of Scottish stations have been discussed with the Department in the context of Access for All. This led to 33 stations being put forward by Scottish Ministers for Access for All funding, of which 25 were included in the programme.

Railway Stations: Scotland

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department objected to Access for All funding being allocated to any of the Scottish Government's proposed recipient stations between 2006 and 2014.

Claire Perry: Since 2006, 33 Scottish stations have been nominated for Access for All funding, of which 25 were selected. The Department for Transport did not object to any of the stations on the list.

Gospel Oak-Barking Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line; what the expected date of completion of that work is; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The detailed Network Rail GRIP 3 study of the engineering works required for electrification is expected to be completed in August. This will enable confirmation of cost, scope and delivery dates. The indicative completion date of Barking – Gospel Oak electrification is June 2017 with the electrified freight links to the route being complete by December 2018.

Home Office

Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to ratify the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have (a) applied and (b) successfully resettled in the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (i) in total and (ii) in each month since September 2014.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the relative effectiveness of (a) the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme and (b) comparable schemes being implemented by other EU member states.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Drugs: Misuse

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress she has made on legislative proposals to ban the sale of legal highs.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Hamas

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on which countries have donated funds to Hamas.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We assess that funding for Hamas comes from a range of sources in the region and internationally, not all of which are clear. An EU asset freeze is in place against Hamas in its entirety, which prevents funds being made available to the organisation from within EU Member States.

Cyprus

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the government of the Republic of Cyprus on that country joining the Sovereign Base Area Administration in adopting the new Strategic Action Plan against illegal bird trapping.

Mr David Lidington: I discussed concerns around illegal bird trapping with the Foreign Minister of Cyprus when we met on 12 March.

Germany

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2015 to Question 224295, what progress his Department has made on securing a meeting between the Thalidomide Trust and the German authorities on financial compensation for British victims of thalidomide.

Mr David Lidington: During his visit to Berlin in February, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Life Sciences at the Department of Health, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Norfolk (Mr Freeman), raised the matter with Caren Marks, State Secretary in the Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth. They agreed that such a meeting was needed. We are currently in correspondence with the Ministry and the Trust to make the necessary arrangements and stand ready to give further support, if needed.

Northern Ireland Office

Community Policing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions her Department has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on the potential effect of the planned relocation of Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The issue of the planned relocation of the Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Northern Ireland is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Policy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what policies contained in the 2010 Coalition Agreement and falling under her Department's responsibilities have not yet been implemented; and what the reasons are for each such policy's non-implementation.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: All policies contained in the 2010 Coalition Agreement falling to my department, including the promotion of peace, stability and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland, have been implemented.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Textiles: Exports

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to support exports of UK textile manufacturing.

Matthew Hancock: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) provides a wide range of help to businesses in all sectors - including textile manufacturers - that are seeking to export. UKTI will also continue to work with textile trade associations in organising trade missions and taking textile manufacturers to trade shows and other events around the world as it has done over the past year.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of whether foreign corporations will be able to sue the Government for damages and loss of profit under the investor-state dispute mechanism of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and what steps the Government plans to take to prevent such an occurrence.

Matthew Hancock: The Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has not yet been negotiated. The European Commission carried out a public consultation on these provisions last year and has published a report on the consultation responses. The UK, with other EU Member States and the Commission, will consider the report’s findings carefully to understand what is required of ISDS provisions to protect the right of governments to regulate in the public interest.

Macquarie Bank

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings his Department has held with Macquarie Bank since May 2010; and who was present at such meetings.

Matthew Hancock: Records of all ministerial meetings, including up to March 2014, are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-quarterly-publications-april-to-june-2012Information from the rest of the Department could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Land Registry

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions rights have been registered on the Land Register through adverse possession in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: Land Registry does not hold the information on the number of occasions where applications for adverse possession have been registered in the last 3 years. ‘Adverse Possessions’ fall within the general category ‘First Registrations’ which, as the name suggests, are applications for title to unregistered land.

Adult Education

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations his Department has received from further education colleges on the adult skills allocation from the Skills Funding Agency for 2015-16.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will reconsider the budget allocation for the Skills Funding Agency for adult skills for 2015-16.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has conducted a review of the effect on recipients of the budget reduction for the adult skills allocation of the Skills Funding Agency for the financial year 2015-16.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans his Department has to increase non-apprenticeship opportunities in adult skills in further education colleges in Coventry and the West Midlands in 2015-16.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to address the adult skills gap in Coventry and the West Midlands.

Nick Boles: We have no plans to change the Skills Funding Agency’s budget allocation for 2015-16. It represents a fair funding settlement for skills in this country, as a partnership between Government, businesses and individuals. We continue to give top priority to apprenticeship as the gold standard for vocational education, and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ annual funding for apprenticeships has now doubled over the lifetime of this Parliament.   Ministers frequently meet further education colleges to discuss matters of policy and implementation. Indicative funding for the 2015-16 financial year was set out in our skills funding statement for 2014-15 published in February 2014, and the Government has consistently emphasised the priority it is gives to apprenticeships in allocating funding. The 2015-16 allocations are consistent with a strategy that we have pursued since 2010, and colleges have had opportunity to respond to this by growing their apprenticeship provision, and opening up new income streams.   The overriding principle is that funding should follow the learner, and be allocated to the most valuable programmes. But the approach to funding also takes into account the impact on individual providers from year to year.   The Skills Funding Agency considers the impact on colleges and providers when agreeing allocations.   The Government does not plan skills funding and provision at local or regional level. The freedoms and flexibilities offered by the adult skills budget gives colleges the ability to offer apprenticeships and other provision to respond best to those priorities and meet the needs of learners and employers in the local area. The Skills Funding Agency will where appropriate seek the views of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) on funding allocations.   In the region recent investments have included:   · £18 million for a new training facility at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry. This will form part of the National College in Advanced Manufacturing opening in September 2015. · £1.3m of Local Growth Fund to take forward the development of a new Apprenticeship Centre at Warwickshire College as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Deal. · £1.2m in skills capital projects which will include FE establishments from 2016/17 to meet the skills needs of local employers. · £783,000 of Regional Growth Fund to support the implementation of the Skills for Growth programme as part of the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP City Deal.   Beyond apprenticeships, our funding priorities include traineeships to enable young people who are not yet work ready to develop the skills and experience they need to get into employment. We also prioritise English and maths for those who have yet to achieve GCSE Grade A* to C standard.

Adult Education: York

Sir Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the Government has made available in Adult Skills Funding in (a) York Central constituency, (b) City of York Council and (c) all areas using York College in 2015-16; and how much such funding was made available in each of the last six years (i) in cash terms and (ii) at current prices.

Nick Boles: The funding available for Adult Skills in 2015/16 is outlined in the Skills Funding Letter. The letter sets out the Government’s priorities for the budget and it is for providers to decide how they use their adult skills funding to reflect those priorities and meet the needs of learners and employers in their local area. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-funding-letter-april-2015-to-march-2016   FE funding is demand led and adult participation in Local Authorities and parliamentary constituencies for 2009/10 to 2013/14 is published online: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-further-education-and-skills https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378262/feandskills-participation-by-geography-learner-demographics.xls

Staff

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many officials in his Department are working on the review of the clarity and employment status of workers.

Jo Swinson: Employment status is a complicated issue affecting many areas of employment law. As such a number of teams from across the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have been feeding into the employment status review.

Medicine: Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of reasons for regional per capita disparities in the distribution of medical research funding.

Greg Clark: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Research Councils

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of reasons for regional per capita disparities in the distribution of Research Councils' funding.

Greg Clark: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Adam Smith International

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what non-core funding her Department has provided to Adam Smith International in each financial year from 2011-12.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We do not hold this information in the form requested.

Africa

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps her Department has taken to support the development of clean drinking water systems in Africa.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK Government has promised to support 60 million people to gain access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in the developing world. We are on track to achieve this target through projects managed by our country offices in 15 countries, of which 12 are in Africa; a partnership with UNICEF to deliver programmes in nine countries, of which three are in Africa; and a challenge programme which funds three consortia working in 12 countries of which 10 are in Africa. The total number of people reached with WASH services in Africa since 2010 is 19.4 million and this is forecast to rise to 34.1 million by December 2015.

Department for Education

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department provides to primary schools to ensure that all infants take up the provision of free school meals.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education has provided substantial support to help schools deliver this policy. More than £1 billion of revenue funding is being provided to schools over two years on top of almost £175 million capital funding allocated this year to support them in improving their kitchen and dining facilities. The department has also allocated £22.5 million transitional funding in 2014-15 to help schools with 150 pupils or fewer to implement the policy. All this funding has been provided to ensure that the meals provided are of high quality, and particularly that all schools are able to offer hot meals. The department has also set up an implementation support service, staffed by school food experts, which schools can contact for advice and support to help them to increase take-up of meals by their infant pupils. Over 1.6 million infant pupils (85.2% of all infant pupils) took a free school meal on autumn census day in 2014. This is a rise of 1.3 million from the 0.3 million infant pupils who were estimated to have taken a free school meal in the January 2014 school census.

Teachers: Disclosure of Information

Dr Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many confidentiality agreements have been entered into with members of the teaching profession (a) without and (b) following an Ofsted inspection in each of the last five years.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education does not hold data on the numbers of confidentiality agreements entered into by teachers without or following an Ofsted inspection. This information would be held by individual school employers.   Settlement agreements, previously known as compromise agreements, are sometimes used when teachers leave a school. These agreements are voluntary and neither employers nor employees are obliged to enter into them. Such agreements usually include a confidentiality clause, but they cannot be used to suppress information such as that relating to pupil safety, nor can they be used to prevent someone from making a protected disclosure under whistleblowing arrangements.

Schools: Disciplinary Proceedings

Dr Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) headteachers, (b) deputy headteachers and (c) senior leaders have been suspended (i) without and (ii) following an Ofsted inspection in each of the last five years.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education does not hold data on the numbers of suspensions of headteachers, deputy headteachers and senior leaders either without or following an Ofsted inspection. This information would be held by individual school employers.

Schools: Disciplinary Proceedings

Dr Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many suspended (a) headteachers, (b) deputy headteachers and (c) senior leaders have entered into confidentiality agreements in each of the last five years.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education does not hold data on the numbers of confidentiality agreements entered into by headteachers, deputy headteachers or senior leaders. This information would be held by individual school employers.   Settlement agreements, previously known as compromise agreements, are sometimes used when teachers leave a school. These agreements are voluntary and neither employer nor employees have to enter into them. Such agreements usually include a confidentiality clause, but they cannot be used to suppress information such as that relating to pupil safety or to prevent someone from making a protected disclosure under whistleblowing arrangements.

Schools: Disciplinary Proceedings

Dr Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many suspended (a) headteachers, (b) deputy headteachers and (c) senior leaders have returned to their posts in each of the last five years.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education does not hold data on the numbers of suspended headteachers, deputy headteachers or senior leaders that have returned to their posts. This information would be held by individual school employers.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2015 to Question 226007, for what reasons she will not publish the information requested.

Mr David Laws: The Department of Education has shared the detailed initial findings of the Property Data Survey with those responsible for maintaining and improving school buildings.   The department has no plans to publish the detailed findings of the Property Data Survey as it is believed that doing so would prejudice the commercial interests of schools and the bodies responsible for maintaining them.   Summaries of the data from the survey programme are published at:www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/402138/PDSP_Summary_Report.pdf

Ministry of Justice

Travel

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 7 April 2014 to Question 190548, how much his Department has spent on first class (a) flight travel for Ministers and officials in each year since 2010 and (b) rail travel for Ministers and officials in 2014 to date.

Mike Penning: Since 2013, the Ministry of Justice has prohibited first class travel and business class travel for flights of less than eight hours duration, except for flights of five hours and over where there is a compelling business need, such as where staff are required to go straight into a meeting following a flight or where they are required to work on a flight. An exception to this ban is to support the needs of some disabled staff carrying out their duties. The Ministry of Justice publishes within its transparency data the costs of all flights taken by Ministers and Senior Civil Servants (http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-cabinet-office / http://data.gov.uk/dataset/flights-booked-through-gps-framework-moj) Flights taken by staff below this level are not centrally recorded.  Spend data from 2012 onwards for first class air travel is available through the Redfern travel contract. This data is provided below:2012 £605.32 2013 £0 2014 £0 In one instance, the MoJ booked a business class ticket. This ticket covered a four leg journey. On one of those legs, a passenger was seated in first class due to a lack of availability of a business class seat.  This includes expenditure by one of the MoJ’s Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB). This level of information prior to 2012 is not held centrally. The total Rail spend data through the Redfern travel contract for Ministers and officials, in 2014 to date is: £34,943.53. This has decreased by 99% since 2009, when the annual spend on rail travel for Ministers and officials[1] was £3,989,713, This shows a reduction of £1,589,275 over the period. The Secretary of State has put in place a ban on all first-class rail travel. An exception to this ban is to support the needs of some disabled staff in carrying out their duties, where it is reasonable to do so, and which exceptionally justify the use of first-class rail travel. [1] Spend information is available only for the period April to December 2009.

Legal Aid Scheme

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of comparative per capita levels of legal aid spending in England and Wales and other jurisdictions.

Mr Shailesh Vara: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 06 March 2015.The correct answer should have been:

A Ministry of Justice study published in 2011 (based on 2008 estimates) showed that England and Wales had the highest legal aid expenditure amongst countries with similar legal and judicial traditions. The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) publishes a biennial report “European judicial systems: efficiency and quality of justice” which contains the comparative per capita levels of legal aid spending. The Department contributes data to these reports and the most recent, published in 2014 using 2012 data, can be found at: www.coe.int/t/dghl/cooperation/cepej/evaluation/2014/Rapport_2014_en.pdf This report shows that England and Wales has the third highest allocated budget to legal aid (after Norway and N.Ireland) per inhabitant at €41.55 £33.74 per head. The European average is €8.63 £7.01 per head. The Sterling figures provided in this answer were calculated from the Euro figures in the CEPEJ report, using the conversion date of 01/01/2013 as used in the CEPEJ report.

Mr Shailesh Vara: A Ministry of Justice study published in 2011 (based on 2008 estimates) showed that England and Wales had the highest legal aid expenditure amongst countries with similar legal and judicial traditions. The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) publishes a biennial report “European judicial systems: efficiency and quality of justice” which contains the comparative per capita levels of legal aid spending. The Department contributes data to these reports and the most recent, published in 2014 using 2012 data, can be found at: www.coe.int/t/dghl/cooperation/cepej/evaluation/2014/Rapport_2014_en.pdf This report shows that England and Wales has the third highest allocated budget to legal aid (after Norway and N.Ireland) per inhabitant at €41.55 £33.74 per head. The European average is €8.63 £7.01 per head. The Sterling figures provided in this answer were calculated from the Euro figures in the CEPEJ report, using the conversion date of 01/01/2013 as used in the CEPEJ report.

Court Orders

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many restraining orders issued by the courts were breached (a) once, (b) twice and (c) on more than three occasions in each of the last five years.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many restraining orders were (a) issued by the courts, (b) breached and (c) resulted in the imposition of a penalty in each of the last five years.

Simon Hughes: I am replying as the Ministry of Justice has overall responsibility for this legislation. The Government is absolutely clear that stalking and harassment, which cause misery for victims, are totally unacceptable. That is why in 2012 we added to the existing offences in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (harassment (section 2) and putting people in fear of violence (section 4)) two new specific offences of stalking (section 2A) and stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress (section 4A). The 1997 Act also gives the courts the option, upon conviction or acquittal for an offence under it, of making a restraining order for the purpose of protecting the victim of an offence, or any other person mentioned in the order, from conduct that amounts to harassment or that will cause fear of violence. Breach of such an order is a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison, or a fine, or both. The number of offenders convicted on one, two, or three or more occasions, in each of the last five years for which data is available, of breaching a restraining order can be viewed in the table below. These figures have been drawn from an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Department. The PNC holds details of all convictions and cautions given for recordable offences. As with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing so data provided may be subject to revision.   Number of offenders breaching restraining orders1, England and Wales2 Number of restraining order breach offences312 months ending September4123 or more20101,6552117120112,73845613820123,63860721620134,08671022120144,822767244Data Source: MoJs copy of the Police National Computer 1. Includes offences covered by:   - Breach of a restraining order under s5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997- Breach of restraining Order under s5A of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (Sexual Offences Prevention Orders replaced restraining orders under s.5A Sex Offenders Act 1997. However, it is possible for cases to still appear where an offender is subject to one of the orders that pre-date the Sexual Offences Act 2003)- Breach of a restraining order on acquittal under s.5A of the Protection from Harassment Act 19972. England and Wales includes all 43 police force areas and the British Transport Police  3. Where the primary offence on a given occasion was a restraining order breach offence.4. The same offender may appear in multiple years.  The number of restraining orders issued and sentences given for breaches of restraining orders, from 2009 to 2013 (the latest available) in England and Wales, can be viewed in the table below. These figures are taken from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) court proceedings database.  Number of restraining orders issued and sentences given for breaches of restraining orders, England & Wales, 2009 to 2013(1)(2)  20092010201120122013  Offenders issued with a restraining order(3)(4)(5)5,07410,76119,55120,06720,304  Offenders convicted for breaching a restraining order Convicted1,4642,9204,5585,6996,337Sentenced1,3292,7984,4315,6086,194Immediate custody4579041,5942,1012,236Suspended sentence178381507667822Community sentence3717791,2991,4611,563Fine141321469705847Absolute discharge515192840Conditional discharge93237385462469Otherwise dealt with84161158184217 (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (3) Includes restraining orders issued on conviction or acquittal.  (4) Issued under either S.5 Protection from Harassment Act 1997 or S.5A Sex Offenders Act 1997.  (5) Sexual Offences Prevention Orders replaced restraining orders under s.5A Sex Offenders Act 1997 and Sex Offender Orders under s.2 Crime and Disorder Act 1998. However, it is possible for cases to still appear where an offender is subject to one of the orders that pre-date the Sexual Offences Act 2003.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. PQ: 226457   Court proceedings data for 2014 are planned for publication in May 2015. Figures taken from the PNC database will differ from figures taken from the MoJ court proceedings database. Hence, police recorded crime and court proceedings data are not directly comparable. As the Violence Against Women and Girls Report (Home Office, 2015) notes: “Increases in reporting of domestic abuse incidents indicate that victims have more confidence in the criminal justice system. Prosecutions for domestic abuse have increased while out of court disposals for domestic abuse at the pre-charge stage have reached their lowest levels, and we have seen increases in the volume of prosecutions and conviction rate for all VAWG offences. These figures are showing that not only are victims more confident in coming forward – the criminal justice system is delivering improved outcomes for them.”

Court Orders: Children

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prohibited steps orders were (a) issued by the courts, (b) breached and (c) resulted in contempt proceedings or a sequestration order in each of the last five years.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many non-molestation orders issued by the courts were breached (a) once, (b) twice and (c) on more than three occasions in each of the last five years.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many non-molestation orders were (a) issued by the courts, (b) breached and (c) resulted in the imposition of a penalty in each of the last five years.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many child arrangement orders issued by the courts were breached and resulted in the imposition of unpaid work in each of the last three years.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many child arrangement orders were (a) issued by the courts, (b) breached and (c) resulted in an enforcement order or contempt proceedings in each of the last five years.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many specific issues orders were (a) issued by the courts, (b) breached and (c) resulted in contempt proceedings or a sequestration order in each of the last five years.

Simon Hughes: The number of child arrangement orders (residence and contact), prohibited steps orders, specific issues orders, and non molestation orders are shown in table 1 below. Note that data is not available for 2010 as the FamilyMan court database did not include all courts at this time. This data covers England and Wales and give the number of children and young people involved in those orders made. Table 1 – Number of specific Children’s Act orders; England and Wales; 2011 to 2013  Contact and Residence Orders*Prohibited stepsSpecific issueNMOs2011155,52818,7575,95719,5562012158,11219,7886,51519,4062013160,73818,4006,40722,279*Note: Child Arrangements Orders replaced separate Contact and Residence Orders in April 2014. Data for 2014 will be published in Table 4 of Family Court Statistics Quarterly on 26 March at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly Details of how many of the orders included in Table 1 were breached or resulted in enforcement or contempt of court or a sequestration order can only be obtained by manually checking case files at disproportionate cost. The total number of enforcement proceedings in respect of contact orders and Child Arrangements Orders from 2011 to 2013 are shown in Table 2 – these comprise applications for an enforcement order for unpaid work and applications for an order requiring the payment of compensation for financial loss. Table 2 - Numbers of applications and orders of enforcement of Child Arrangement orders - 2011 to 2013  (a) Applications for enforcement order for unpaid work(b) All Enforcement orders made(c) Applications for second enforcement order(d) Second enforcement orders made(e) Applications for an order to pay financial compensation(f) Orders made for financial compensation  201152238112613317 2012680431312130110 201395954175054068 Notes   1) figures for column (b) and column (f) together make up total enforcement order as recorded in Family Court Statistics Quarterly publication - table 4. 2) second enforcement order - column (d) - includes "breach of an enforcement order or order for increased hours." 3) figures for 2014 will only be available from 26th March 2014.  The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts for breach of a non-molestation order in England and Wales from 2009 to 2013 are provided in Table 3. Data for 2014 are planned for publication in May 2015 in the Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly Table 3 - Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced at all courts for breach of a non-molestation order (1), England and Wales, 2009 to 2013 (2)(3)(4)(5)  Outcome20092010201120122013  Proceeded against1,9332,2572,3392,4672,777Found guilty2,2792,6262,6052,6502,976Sentenced2,1742,5502,5662,6052,951of which Absolute discharge611202019Conditional discharge321353362388452Fine337409407491640Community sentence74185181656Suspended sentence249285267251337Immediate custody457493567463503Otherwise dealt with (6)63148862927994  (1) An offence under S42A Family Law Act 1996 (2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to make sure that data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (4) The number of defendants found guilty in a particular year may exceed the number proceeded against as the proceedings in the magistrates' court took place in an earlier year and the defendants were found guilty at the Crown Court in the following year; or the defendants were found guilty of a different offence to that for which they were originally proceeded against.  (5) The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown Court, may be sentenced in the following year.  (6) The category Otherwise Dealt With (ODW) includes: one day in police cells; disqualification order; restraining order; confiscation order; travel restriction order; disqualification from driving; recommendation for deportation; and other miscellaneous disposals.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. Ref: PQ 226458The number of offenders convicted of breaching a non-molestation order on one, two, or three or more occasions in each of the last five years for which data is available are provided in Table 4. These figures have been drawn from an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Department - they will differ from the figures taken from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) court proceedings database. The PNC holds details of all convictions and cautions given for recordable offences. Hence, police recorded crime and data court proceedings are not directly comparable. As with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing so data provided may be subject to revision.  Table 4 - Number of offenders breaching non-molestation orders, England and Wales1  Number of non-molestation order breach offences2 12 months ending September3123 or more 20101,85419043 20111,84720644 20121,96022445 20132,20022036 20142,55930846 Data Source: MoJs copy of the Police National Computer1. England and Wales includes all 43 police force areas and the British Transport Police   2. Where the primary offence on a given occasion was a non-molestation order breach offence. 3. The same offender may appear in multiple years.

Youth Custody: Travellers

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Roma, Gypsy and Traveller young people were held in (a) young offenders' institutions, (b) secure training centres and (c) secure children's homes in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of the total number of inmates each of these are.

Andrew Selous: The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is undertaking joint work with its partner agencies to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach to address the issue of minority groups in the youth justice system.The YJB and HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) commissioned and published the annual report 'Children in Custody 2013-14’ in December 2014. The report includes the results of surveys undertaken in Secure Training Centres (STCs) and Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in 2013/14, which showed that:In YOIs, of 729 young people surveyed, 6% of young people considered themselves to be a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT).In STCs, of 231 young people surveyed, 11% considered themselves GRT.As not all young people returned a completed survey, we are unable to determine the actual number of GRT young people held in those establishments, or if this sample is representative.Administrative data on the number of young people who considered themselves to be GRT in STCs and Secure Children’s Homes is not held centrally.Data on ethnic background, including GRT, is collected for young people in under-18 YOIs. However, due to recording issues, figures for GRT are not considered to be of sufficient quality.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Written Statement of 18 December 2014, Official Report, columns 134-5WS, on transforming rehabilitation, whether any of the winning bidders for the running of the 21 community rehabilitation companies were not involved when the contracts went live on 1 February 2015.

Andrew Selous: Contracts were signed on behalf of the Secretary of State for Justice with the new owners of the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) on 18 December 2014 and on 1 February 2015, new owners assumed control of the CRCs and delivery of probation services to low and medium risk offenders. On 1 February, all providers who signed contracts on 18 December 2014 assumed ownership of the CRC for which they had successfully bid.

Offensive Weapons

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects Section 28 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 to come into force.

Mike Penning: Knives on our streets are a social scourge, and under this Government, criminals carrying knives are more likely to go to prison and to get longer sentences. Unlawful possession of a knife or offensive weapon is already a serious criminal offence (which carries a maximum 4 year custodial sentence). We have built on that in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015, to make it absolutely clear that cautions should no longer be used for these offences. Parliament has also decided that those caught for a second time in possession of a knife should face a minimum custodial sentence. The Ministry of Justice is currently considering how best to implement this provision, alongside the other legislative changes contained in the Act.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, who the members are of the appointment panel for the new Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Andrew Selous: The Selection Panel for the competition to recruit a new Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons were:Dame Anne Pringle (Chair) – A Public Appointment Assessor nominated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.Antonia Romeo, the then Director of Criminal Justice, Ministry of Justice.Lord Oliver Henley, former Minister of State, Home Office. He was the first independent selection panel member.Amanda Sater, a member of the Youth Justice Board and the second independent selection panel member.

Prisoners' Release

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people leaving prison since 1 February 2015 after sentences of under 12 months have been supervised by a community rehabilitation company.

Andrew Selous: On 1 February 2015, provisions of the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 came into force, which extend post release supervision to offenders released from sentences of more than one day but less than 12 months. These provisions apply to any offender whose offence was committed on or after 1 February 2015. Official figures for the number of short sentenced offenders supervised by Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) are not currently published. However, there will be a gradual increase in the number of offenders eligible for post-release supervision as cases flow through the courts. We will closely monitor numbers of all offenders being released into the supervision of both the National Probation Service and CRCs, including those from sentences of less than 12 months.

Leader of the House

West Lothian Question

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Leader of the House, what his planned timetable is for introducing English Votes for English Laws.

Mr William Hague: on 16 December 2014, the Government published 'the Implications of Devolution for England' covering proposals on decentralisation within England and proposals on English Votes for English Laws. There is no agreed Government position on the timetable for the introduction of English Votes for English Laws.

Ministry of Defence

Procurement

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what total value of contracts was awarded under his Department's Small Business Research Initiative competitions advertised through the Innovate UK website in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Mr Philip Dunne: Holding answer received on 02 March 2015






An error has been identified in the written answer given on 10 March 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The total value of contracts awarded via Small Business Research Initiative competitions advertised through the Innovate UK website was £6.7 million in Financial Year (FY) 2012-13 and £7.955£8.255 million in FY 2013-14.

Mr Philip Dunne: Holding answer received on 02 March 2015



The total value of contracts awarded via Small Business Research Initiative competitions advertised through the Innovate UK website was £6.7 million in Financial Year (FY) 2012-13 and £7.955£8.255 million in FY 2013-14.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2015 to Question 214595, what the roles were of those UK military personnel deployed to UNFICYP in 2014.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 10 March 2015



Following Cypriot independence in 1960, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom entered into a treaty to guarantee the basic provisions of the constitution and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.After the outbreak of intercommunal violence in December 1963 the UN unanimously adopted resolution 186 (1964) to prevent violence, contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and contribute to a return to normal conditions. The UK has been an integral part of delivering this mandate ever since.The UK had on average 274 military personnel deployed to UNFICYP during 2014. One hundred and eighty-six were deployed to Sector 2 (Nicosia and its surrounds) in support of the mandate within this area of responsibility. In addition to this the UK has 88 personnel currently deployed to the UN Protected Area. This includes; 14 Staff Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) within UNFICYP HQ, 54 members assigned to the Mobile Force Reserve, two HQ support group medics, seven military police, nine continuity posts and two posts (Officer and SNCO) managing the British Retained Site Staff.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions the wrong transport aircraft was sent to retrieve an asset in the last 12 months; and what the asset and incorrect aircraft sent was in each such case.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 10 March 2015



None, as far as I am aware.

Middle East

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what gifts of (a) non-lethal and (b) lethal military equipment have been made to (i) Turkey, (ii) Egypt, (iii) Jordan, (iv) Iraq and (v) Saudi Arabia in the last three years.

Mr Mark Francois: The Government publishes a table of all gifts approved against the Consolidated Criteria each year in the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. Information on Gifting is contained in Section 6. Links to the 2012 and 2013 reports are below. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-export-controls-annual-report-2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-export-controls-annual-report-2012 Gifting details for 2014 are given in the table below:CountryEnd User(s)Goods DecscriptionGoods ValueIRAQGovernment of IraqVallon Metal Detectors2,200,000.00JORDANJordanian Armed ForcesToyota Land Cruisers B6 Armoured Vehicles386,375.00IRAQMinistry of PeshmergaHeavy machine guns spares, Mortars, Binoculars, Body Armour, Protective Equipment2,600,000

Nuclear Installations: Safety

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the protected nuclear safety baseline staff complement numbers are for each of the nuclear authorities within his Department; and how many personnel were in post authorisees as of 31 December 2014.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Publications

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place document 2010217-CWS_DESB-1_Gp-R-V4 in the Library.

Mr Philip Dunne: I have placed the requested document in the Library of the House. 



20101217-CWS-DESB-1 Gp-R-V4
(PDF Document, 75.03 KB)

Warships

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships and submarines of each type are in service in each branch of the Armed Forces; and where each such ship or submarine is based.

Mr Philip Dunne: Holding answer received on 11 March 2015



The information requested is provided in the table below: PORTSMOUTH FLOTILLA Type 45 Destroyers6Type 23 Frigates6Hunt Class Mine Countermeasure Vessel (MCMV)8River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (Fishery Protection Squadron)3Helicopter Offshore Patrol Vessel (Falkland Islands Patrol Vessel)1Archer Class Fast Training Boats (University Royal Navy Units)14  DEVONPORT FLOTILLA Amphibious Ships3Type 23 Frigates7Ship Submersible Nuclear - Trafalgar Class4Ice Patrol Ship1Survey Ships4  FASLANE FLOTILLA Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear4Ship Submersible Nuclear - Astute Class2Sandown Class MCMV7Faslane Squadron Patrol Boats2  GIBRALTAR SQUADRON Patrol Boats2  NO FIXED BASE PORT Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ships13

Radar

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department has issued on windfarms in the vicinity of radar installations following the installation of TPS-77 radar systems; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working with the wind industry to offer guidance to wind energy developers proposing wind turbine construction in the vicinity of TPS-77 radar systems. Because each wind farm is unique, the MOD offers tailored guidance to individual wind farm developers on a case-by-case basis. MOD engagement is available as part of the MOD's pre-application consultation service, accessed via the MOD and the Renewable UK websites at the following links.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wind-farms-ministry-of-defence-safeguarding/wind-farms-mod-safeguardinghttp://www.renewableuk.com/

Cyprus

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the area of land in Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area that has been planted with acacia trees in the last 10 years.

Anna Soubry: Acacia trees occupy approximately 59.42 hectares of the 550 hectare range at CapePyla in the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area. The Ministry of Defence is unable to estimate what areas have been planted in the last 10 years.

Cyprus

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many days of staff absence there were in the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area Police Anti-Poaching Unit in (a) September and (b) October 2014.

Anna Soubry: The Dhekelia Sovereign Base Police Anti-Poaching team consists of five full-time officers who work approximately 20 days each per month on countering bird trapping operations. In September and October 2014 there were a total of 32 days of staff absences, comprising annual leave and public holidays. In addition to the 168 days of man hours provided by the Anti-Poaching team in these months, they were assisted by other Sovereign Base Area Police officers who are regularly tasked with duties directly associated with countering bird trapping.

Cyprus

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many clearance operations there were to remove equipment used in the illegal killing of birds from the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area in (a) September and (b) October of each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is provided in the following table.  SeptemberOctober Number of Anti Mist nettingOperations[1] Number of seizedMist netsNumberof seized Lime sticksNumber of ArrestsNumber of Anti Mist nettingOperations[2]Number of seizedMist netsNumberof seizedLime sticksNumber of Arrests2010-1130 (6)112371561 (7)173115162011-1252 (5)1591931032 (5)16197102012-1345 (4)1252881257 (5)1312692013-1432 (5)1164681829 (6)994832014-1548 (4)911141143 (8)8114218   [1] Large scale clearance operations, possibly involving resources outside of the normal Sovereign Base Area (SBA) Police assets[2] Large scale clearance operations, possibly involving resources outside of the normal SBA Police assets

Cyprus

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what area of acacia trees has been removed from the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area in 2015 to date.

Anna Soubry: No acacia trees have been removed from the range at CapePyla in the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area (SBA) in 2015. The SBA Administration is currently evaluating options to remove acacia this year, which needs to take account of what funds can be provided for this purpose and the impact on military training. The SBA Administration will announce shortly that, subject to consultation, CapePyla will be designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) site. If the SAC designation is confirmed, the site will require management of the invasive species of acacia. Therefore, the decision to remove some of the acacia trees in 2014 and further proposed efforts to do so in 2015 is entirely consistent with the proposed designation of the site.

Armed Forces: Railways

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) permanent and (b) reservist members of the armed forces have been issued with the HM Armed Forces Railcard since that scheme was introduced.

Anna Soubry: A breakdown of HM Forces Railcards issued to Regular and Reserve members of the Armed Forces could be provided only at disproportionate cost.However, between 1 January 2009 and 10 March 2015, a total of 384,391 Railcards were sold to Armed Forces personnel and eligible dependants.The scheme was extended to include Reservists from 1 July 2014.Data is not held prior to 1 January 2009. The total figure includes first purchases and renewals

Armed Forces: Railways

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many HM Armed Forces Railcards have been issued in each year since that scheme was introduced.

Anna Soubry: Data prior to 1 January 2009 is not held. The number of HM Forces Railcards sold to Armed Forces personnel and eligible dependants in each year from 2009 can be found in the table below:Calendar YearSales 200932,690201052,230201166,610201273,125201371,763201477,573201510,400Total384,391Notes:The number of sales for each year includes both first purchases and renewals.The number of sales for 2015 represents the position as at 10 March 2015.

Army

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of spending on the regular army over the next five years.

Michael Fallon: The Army budget for 2015-16 is around £8 billion. Decisions on the Defence budget in subsequent years will be made as part of the next spending review.

Armed Forces: Railways

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the HM Armed Forces Railcard in each year since that scheme was introduced.

Anna Soubry: The HM Forces Railcard scheme is essentially self-funding, with no direct cost to the public purse. The Association of Train Operating Companies is reimbursed quarterly for railcards received by the Ministry of Defence, and the cost is recovered from individuals when the railcards are sold

HMS Victory

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons he decided to withdraw his Department's approval for the Maritime Heritage Foundation to manage the wreck site of HMS Victory 1744; if he will publish a detailed rationale for that decision; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Procurement

Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on how many redundancies or job losses have arisen in the private sector as a result of the award of the Next General Estates contract.

Anna Soubry: This information is not held in the format requested.

Armed Forces: Railways

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) annual and (b) total cost has been of the contract between his Department and ATOC Ltd for the HM Armed Forces Railcard; and when this contract will expire.

Anna Soubry: The HM Forces Railcard scheme is essentially self-funding, with no direct cost to the public purse. The contract, which was set up in March 1999, is an open-ended enabling arrangement.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of reviews of entitlement to jobseeker's allowance in Scotland resulted in no sanction being applied to the claimant between 1 November 2012 and 30 September 2014.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of reviews of entitlement to employment and support allowance in Scotland resulted in no sanction being applied to the claimant in each six month period between 1 November 2012 and 30 September 2014.

Esther McVey: The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) sanctions decision reviews is published and available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm Proportions can then be calculated using the published figures.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of mandatory reconsiderations of employment and support allowance claims in Scotland have resulted in no sanction being applied to claimants in each six month period between 1 November 2012 and 30 September 2014.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of mandatory reconsiderations of jobseeker's allowance claims in Scotland have resulted in no sanction being applied to the claimant in each six month period between 1 November 2012 and 30 September 2014.

Esther McVey: The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) sanctions mandatory reconsiderations is published and available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm Proportions can then be calculated using the published figures.

Employment and Support Allowance: Thirsk

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claimed employment and support allowance in Thirsk and Malton constituency in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Harper: Statistics on the number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool Guidance for users is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people eligible for employment and support allowance have their benefits suspended while medical reviews are conducted; and in the case of claimants whose benefit is restored after a medical review, what steps are taken to ensure that National Insurance payments are restored and future state pension and other benefits are protected.

Mr Mark Harper: Employment and Support Allowance claimants do not have their benefit suspended whilst undergoing a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). They continue to receive their National Insurance credits for each week that they are found to have limited capability for work or limited capability for work-related activity. Where claimants are found fit for work on a repeat WCA and it is subsequently decided that they did have limited capability for work or limited capability for work-related activity, National Insurance credits will be backdated accordingly so that entitlement to the state pension and other benefits is protected.

Children: Maintenance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much child maintenance arrears (a) is designated technically uncollectable and (b) his Department has already written-off as uncollectable since the write-off powers were introduced in November 2012; and what the reasons are for any difference between the two such figures.

Steve Webb: (a) Information on uncollectable arrears can be found on page 41 of the latest Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics, available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/404296/csa-qtr-summ-stats-dec-2014.pdf (b) Under the Write Off and Part Payment Powers introduced on 10 December 2012 the Department has written off £1.2 million in the financial year 2012/13 and £16.0 million in the financial year 2013/14 giving a total written off of £17.2 million. The two figures are not directly comparable. The data is based on different sources, uncollectable arrears is based on the entire caseload whereas the amount written off relates to specific cases where agreement to write off has been reached.

Older Workers: Hertfordshire

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Fuller Working Lives: a framework for action, published in June 2014, what steps his Department has taken to implement the commitments contained in that framework in Hertfordshire.

Steve Webb: Since June 2014 this Government has implemented a number of initiatives to support older workers in Hertfordshire. All Jobcentre Work Coaches are trained to support all customers including those aged over 50 and are aware of the help available within their area. Indeed, customers over the age of 50 have been recognised in the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Skills Strategy as a group in need of specialist support. On the 18 June 2014 an ‘Experience Counts’ Jobs fair for older workers was delivered in partnership with Oaklands College. A variety of employers and providers from different sectors and over 200 older workers attended the event. Other local partnership initiatives include - Working with Harlow College who deliver a course for customers aged 50 and over (Optimum) that focuses on employability, IT and transferable skills for this age group;- sector based work academies are available to all candidates including 50+;- work experience for 50+ candidates;- Customers aged over 50 can access all courses delivered at West Herts College;- Working in partnership with North Herts College who deliver ‘Get that Job’: a four day course for 50+ customers in Stevenage and Letchworth;- Specific Group information sessions, tailored for those aged over 50;- Customers aged over 50 can access all courses delivered at West Herts College;- “Anything is Possible” is a 3 day course followed by 3 months of employment support exclusively for 50 plus. Its aim is to build a positive attitude and confidence;- Working in partnership with EUREKA, Oaklands College and Progression 2, a 5 week course has been developed and delivered to long term unemployed who are mainly in the 50+ group;- Working in partnership with Community Action Dacorum, which provides customers over 50 with a digital and social media skill set and profile. As regards wider achievement since the publication of Fuller Working Lives – A Framework for Action, I refer my hon.Member to the answer I gave on 27 February 2015 to Question UIN 225231.

Employment Schemes: Mental Illness

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department is providing to people in Hertfordshire with mental health problems to return to work.

Mr Mark Harper: At Jobcentre level, all our Work Coaches are trained to support customers with mental health conditions and are aware of the specialist help available within their area. They also support those individuals with complex needs to overcome any barriers which may be preventing them from returning to the workplace.Jobcentre Plus offers a range of support to people with mental health conditions including: Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership Managers; Disability Employment Advisers; and Work Psychologists. In January 2014, we launched an enhanced product in Jobcentres, the toolkit Employment and Wellbeing, which offers practical support to work coaches to help them advise claimants affected by mental health problems.In Hertfordshire we are working with a number of stakeholders that provide services to people with Mental Health conditions. This work has included: securing funding at two of our Jobcentres for Herts Mind Network to support customers with mental health conditions; and Watford and West Herts College designing a course called ‘Moving Forward’ to support Employment and Support Allowance claimants with mental health conditions.

Reviews

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the oral contribution of Chris Hayes to the Work and Pensions Committee on 4 February 2015, HC 814, Question 245, if he will undertake an analysis of each of the 49 peer reviews to ascertain whether there were instances in which his Department's actions were either inappropriate or incorrect.

Esther McVey: The purpose of a Peer Review is to objectively analyse how a case has been handled, to determine whether the Department’s processes have been followed and make recommendations for improvements if necessary.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the next release of statistics on personal independence payments (PIP) will include information on the impairment types of people applying for or receiving awards; and how his Department is monitoring the impact of the PIP applications process on disabled people.

Mr Mark Harper: Information on the long term health conditions or disabilities of claimants to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not collected at initial claim stage. The published and future release strategy therefore only includes this information in relation to successful claims in payment. Such information has been published since June 2014 and can be accessed using the Stat-Xplore tool - https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm. As we made clear in our response to the first Independent Review of PIP carried out by Paul Gray, understanding how the PIP claiming process is working and how it affects people is very important. We continually monitor all elements of the PIP process through a combination of regular operational checks, performance monitoring and ad hoc focus on particular areas as required. As part of our performance monitoring, we are considering how we could best implement a comprehensive evaluation strategy which builds on the early evaluation research already published in July 2014.

Access to Work Programme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many self-employed people have (a) applied for, (b) received, (c) been refused and (d) lost some or all of their Access to Work support packages on review since the Department issued new guidance.

Mr Mark Harper: The only recent change to self employment guidance was introduced on 2 December 2014. From this day - Company Directors - did not need to be in receipt of National Minimum Wage to be eligible for Access to Work support.Since 14/12/2014 to the week ending 08/03/2015, Access to Work has received 858 applications from self employed people of which 693 were eligible. 165 of those applicants were not eligible for support. We are unable to provide the information requested regarding how many people have lost some or all of their support packages on review as this information is not recorded.

Access to Work Programme

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what specific guidance his Department issues to staff working with Access to Work claimants and recipients; and whether greater numbers of specialist staff are provided to work with those in receipt of high cost support packages.

Mr Mark Harper: Access to Work provides comprehensive guidance and training to staff working with Access to Work claimants and recipients. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387398/access-to-work-guide.pdf Access to Work does not have a specialist team that focuses on customers with high cost support packages but does have teams covering Hearing Loss, Sight Loss, Self Employment and Mental Health/fluctuating conditions. All advisers assess cases appropriately and award decisions are made based on the customer’s disability need.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in the London Borough of Southwark have claimed discretionary housing payments in relation to the under-occupancy penalty.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department does not hold information regarding the number of households who have claimed Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) by each local authority. In June last year the Department released a publication detailing local authorities use of DHP in 2013/14, which included the number of awards made. The information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-discretionary-housing-payments-2013-to-2014

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of adverse employment and support allowance sanction decisions broken down by the Summary International Classification of Diseases since January 2014; and what the reason was for each such sanction.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's response to freedom of information requests 2014-79 and 2014-2282, what information his Department holds on the reason for sanction in each case reported.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is not yet available.

Sign Language

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the contribution of the Minister for Disabled People to the Work and Pensions Select Committee on 29 October 2014, how his Department is monitoring the application of guidance to ensure support for people requiring British Sign Language interpreters is sustained and improved; whether the guidance on 30 hours has been continued; and how consistency of support to British Sign Language interpreters is monitored.

Mr Mark Harper: I ref the hon. Member to the written statement on Access to Work that I made earlier today. The Access to Work Deaf and hearing loss team have additional training over and above that provided to other teams specifically focusing on the issues and barriers faced by this user group. This team process all applications for people requiring BSL interpreters and their award decisions are scrutinised by our quality assurance team when funding over £25,000 is recommended to ensure consistency and the correct application of guidance.

Children: Maintenance

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been found guilty of wrongdoing by the Child Support Agency in the last 10 years; and how many and what proportion of such people were (a) fined and (b) given some other form of punishment.

Steve Webb: Information on both civil and criminal enforcement actions undertaken by the Child Support Agency (CSA) is only available from April 2007. This can be found on page 44 of the latest CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/404296/csa-qtr-summ-stats-dec-2014.pdf This includes committal information on a variety of enforcement actions, along with information on the number of prosecutions that have been undertaken. However, any fines that have been imposed as a result of these prosecutions are decided by the courts. This information is not routinely recorded for management information purposes and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Work Capability Assessment

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are currently awaiting work capability assessments.

Mr Mark Harper: The latest available data, February 2015, shows that there were 477,985 people awaiting their Work Capability Assessment. This compares with 766,368 people waiting for an assessment in February 2014, a reduction of 37%. These figures do not include cases yet to be referred to the Health Assessment Advisory Service or cases referred where the claimant has yet to return the claimant questionnaire. Centre for Health and Disability Assessments plan on recruiting and retaining more high quality healthcare professionals which will lead to people being assessed quickly and further reduce waiting times.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average (a) monthly and (b) yearly payment is by each household in the London Borough of Southwark affected by the under-occupancy penalty.

Mr Mark Harper: The average weekly Housing Benefit deduction for those impacted by the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy in the London Borough of Southwark is £20.43. This information can be found in the two links below: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/number-of-housing-benefit-claimants-and-average-weekly-spare-room-subsidy-amount-withdrawal https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Widowed Parent's Allowance

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on claimants of widowed parent's allowance of the replacement of that allowance by bereavement support payments from April 2017.

Steve Webb: Bereavement support payments will be introduced from April 2017 for new claimants only. Existing claimants of widowed parent's allowance will remain on that benefit.

Housing Benefit: East Lothian

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average amount of annual housing benefit payments per applicant was in East Lothian constituency in each year since 2010.

Steve Webb: The information is in the table below. Average annual amount of Housing Benefit in East Lothian 2011/122012/132013/14Cash terms£3,310£3,360£3,410Real terms, 2014/15 prices£3,490£3,490£3,480 Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract. Notes:1. Housing Benefit data by Parliamentary Constituency is not available prior to 2011.2. Annual figures are derived using monthly statistics on the caseload and average weekly award. They represent the average amount that would be received by someone claiming for the full year.3. Figures in 2014/15 prices are deflated using the GDP deflator series published following the 2014 Autumn Statement at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/383988/GDP_Deflators_Autumn_Statement_December_2014_update.xls4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Advertising

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's advertising and communications expenditure was in each month since September 2014; and what that expenditure is forecast to be in March 2015.

Dan Rogerson: The table below sets out the information requested in respect of the Core Department. It shows frontline expenditure by Defra’s Communications function. A comparatively small amount of expenditure on advertising (on items such as specialist recruitment) is also incurred by areas of the Core Department other than Communications, but to identify such expenditure would incur disproportionate cost.   MonthExpenditure (£)September 20142,023October 201422,033November 20140December 201412,971January 20152,700February 20159,174March 2015 (forecast)27,000Total75,901

Air Pollution

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that planning decisions take into full consideration the UK's air quality obligations under EU law.

Dan Rogerson: Planning policy is a matter for the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The National Planning Policy Framework was developed by CLG in conjunction with Defra and other relevant parties and sets out how air quality needs to be taken into account in planning decisions. We advise local authorities in local air quality management guidance to carry out planning and air quality functions in close cooperation to control the impacts developments might have on air quality.

Policy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what policies contained in the 2010 Coalition Agreement and falling under her Department's responsibilities have not yet been implemented; and what the reasons are for each such policy's non-implementation.

Dan Rogerson: I refer the hon. Member to Departmental Business Plans which record all commitments, timescales for completion and progress against them. The Business Plans are fully transparent and are available at: www.transparency.number10.gov.uk

Fisheries

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect the seas and fish stocks around England.

George Eustice: During negotiations on the reform of EU Common Fisheries Policy, which entered into force in 2014, the UK was successful in securing a legally binding commitment to manage fish stocks at Maximum Sustainable Yield, an end to wasteful discarding of fish and a new regional decision making process. We are consulting on proposals for 23 Marine Conservation Zones, which add to the wide range of protected areas and other measures used to manage our seas.

Flood Control

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to strengthen resilience against flooding.

Dan Rogerson: Defra launched a £4million Flood Resilience Community Pathfinder Scheme in 2013 to understand local resilience better and to contribute to our policy making. The scheme will close in March 2015 and - following an evaluation – we intend to share the lessons learnt with local authorities and community organisations. The Environment Agency’s local teams work on a daily basis with at-risk communities across the country to build resilience.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Dr William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the devolved administrations on bovine TB.

George Eustice: I have frequent meetings with the Devolved Administrations (DA) on a wide range of matters. Defra officials have monthly meetings on bovine TB involving all the DAs which are normally attended by Chief Veterinary Officers as well as policy and veterinary staff.

Flood Control

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many flood defence schemes are planned to be built under the Government's flood defence programme.

Elizabeth Truss: Our 6 year flood defence programme, announced in December, includes more than 1,400 projects across the country. This £2.3 billion investment is a real terms increase and will mean 300,000 more homes will be better protected.

Horticulture

Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to promote British horticulture.

Elizabeth Truss: There’s huge potential in British Horticulture. We’re seeing exciting innovation. For example the strawberries season has been extended to 9 months of the year and due to new growing technologies we’ve seen the highest crop of cherries ever. Two weeks ago I held a roundtable with leading figures in the sector to discuss what more we can do to help them grow.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons her Department has not yet introduced a Bill based on the draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill.

George Eustice: We remain committed to banning the use of wild animals in circuses. Despite publishing a draft Bill and supporting the Honourable Member’s determined attempt to introduce that Bill, we have run out of time this Parliament. We have always said that introducing primary legislation can take time. That is why we introduced a strict licensing scheme to protect the welfare of wild animals still used in circuses in the interim.

Rivers

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with voluntary and third-sector organisations on the condition of UK rivers.

Dan Rogerson: Ministers and Defra officials are in regular contact with voluntary and third sector organisations on the condition of rivers in England. These groups make a strong contribution to our work on the stewardship of water and the natural environment.   Through our Catchment Based Approach there are now over 100 local partnerships between Government, voluntary organisations and business in operation across England.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Local Government: Publications

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities he has written to about the frequency of their publications since entry into force of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

Kris Hopkins: The Coalition Agreement outlined this Government's clear intention to protect the independent free press by tackling unfair competition from local authority newspapers, reflecting the manifesto commitments of both Coalition parties. Localism needs robust and independent scrutiny by the press and public. The Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 gives the Secretary of State the power to direct compliance with the provisions in the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity ('the Publicity Code'). Ministers have clearly stated that they are prepared to use those powers, if necessary, where local authorities are failing to comply with the provisions in the Code. In March 2014, Ministers wrote to Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Nottingham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest councils requesting that they take steps to ensure their councils comply with the Publicity Code. In April 2014, formal notice that the Secretary of State was minded to direct compliance with the provisions in Code were served on Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest councils. In August 2014, Ministers wrote to Enfield, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Luton, Medway, Mid Devon and North Somerset Councils, requesting they comply with the Publicity Code. In September 2014, further formal notice that the Secretary of State was minded to direct compliance with the provisions in the Publicity Code was served on Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Luton, Newham, North Somerset, Medway, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest councils. In October 2014, North Somerset Council wrote to confirm that they would be complying with the Code, terminating contracts for printing and distribution. This illustrates that we have taken extensive steps to encourage councils to review their practices, given that central intervention is the last resort. Subsequently, I can tell the House: As stated in the Written Ministerial Statement of 17 December 2014 (Official Report, Column 91WS), in December 2014, the Secretary of State has issued a direction against the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and appointed Commissioners. The intervention package includes steps to ensure the Council's publicity functions are properly exercised and ensure compliance with the Code. As stated in my Written Ministerial Statement of 3 March 2015 (Official Report, Column 49WS), the Secretary of State issued a direction to the Royal Borough of Greenwich. As stated in my Written Ministerial Statement of 10 March 2015 (Official Report, Column 6WS), the Secretary of State has published notices of directions that he proposes to issue to the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham and Waltham Forest.

Billing

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of suppliers to his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are signatories to the Prompt Payment Code.

Kris Hopkins: This information is not centrally held.

Starter Home Initiative

Mr Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2015 to Question 226133, whether any of the homes built under the proposed starter homes exceptions policy will be built on land that might otherwise have been brought forward for housing development.

Mr Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's proposed exceptions policy, whether starter homes can count towards affordable housing obligations on sites for development outside designated starter homes exceptions areas.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the rt. hon. Member to my Department’s guidance on the national starter home exception site policy, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/starter-homes-guidance

Change of Use

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what monitoring he has undertaken of the results of Permitted Development Rules that allow for conversion of commercial properties to housing; and what proportion of the new dwellings are for social rent.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Securitas

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on what dates Ministers in his Department have met Securitas since May 2010.

Kris Hopkins: Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on-line as part of our transparency agenda. They are available at:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&publication_type=transparency-data

Sewage

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that previously contaminated sewage works are adequately decontaminated when they are closed down and repurposed.

Brandon Lewis: When dealing with land that may be affected by contamination, the planning system works alongside a number of other regimes including the contaminated land regime under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We have underlined in national planning policy and guidance that the implications of contamination for a new development should be considered by the local planning authority to the extent that it is not addressed by other regimes. Planning decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its new use taking account of arising from previous uses and any proposals for land remediation.

HM Treasury

Welfare Tax Credits

Rachel Reeves: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans for payments of tax credits to cease as a result of their inclusion in universal credit.

Priti Patel: I refer the Hon. Member to the Parliamentary Question 213752 asked by Stephen Timms MP of East Ham, to the Secretary of State Minister for Work and Pensions which can be found below: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons&use-dates=True&dept=29&uin=213752

Natural Resources

Joan Walley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to integrate natural capital into the national infrastructure plan.

Priti Patel: The Government takes natural capital very seriously. It has set long-term goals to stop decades of decline in wildlife and habitats, which have already resulted in improvements. Since 2010, it has helped to create over 150,000 acres of field margins, wetlands and woodlands; woodland cover is at its highest level in 700 years.   The Government’s environmental objectives are reflected in the National Infrastructure Plan. Its Top 40 Priority Infrastructure Investments include rail electrification, renewable energy and Smart Meters. These projects support a transition to a less resource intensive economy.

National Income: Pay

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222161, if he will make an assessment of the link between the further boost to UK GDP and wage rises; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The recent oil price fall will have a positive impact on UK GDP, which grew faster last year than in any other major advanced economy. In the long run the growth in real wages is determined by productivity. At Autumn Statement the OBR forecast productivity to rise in every year to 2019, alongside sustained growth in average earnings.

Members: Correspondence

Mr David Winnick: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects to reply to the letter of 4 February 2015 from the hon. Member for Walsall North on behalf of a constituent.

Priti Patel: I have replied to the Hon. Member.

Income Tax: Cambridge

Dr Julian Huppert: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Cambridge constituency had their income tax reduced as a result of personal allowance increases since May 2010.

Mr David Gauke: By April 2015 this Government's increases in the personal allowance (for those born after 5 April 1948) are estimated to have reduced the income tax liability of 26.7 million individuals in the UK. 2.6 million of them live in the East of England region, which includes the Parliamentary Constituency of Cambridge.   These estimates are based on the 2012-13 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2015-16 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s December 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.   HM Treasury does not publish this information at constituency level.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Nuclear Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether he plans to implement proposals made by his Department's Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board in its recently published annual report for additional public money to be allocated to research, development and demonstration into (a) nuclear fuel fabrication, including in the development and manufacture of the next generation of safer, accident tolerant and more efficient nuclear fuels, (b) advanced reactor development, including into research and development in areas that aim to give UK companies a competitive edge in the design and manufacture of significant reactor components for small modular reactors and Generation IV reactors and (c) recycle and waste management, including into investment in research and development into advanced recycle and waste management technologies.

Matthew Hancock: This is an important and ground breaking first report from the Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board, who are to be congratulated on the depth of their analysis. I very much welcome their work and the contribution it will make to the debate on where next for the UK nuclear industry. Work is already on-going in respect to a number of the recommendations. In December last year Government announced up to £67million of capital to provide essential nuclear R&D infrastructure over the next 6 years. In line with recommendations from NIRAB, the National Nuclear Laboratory and the Energy and Climate Change Committee, we are already undertaking more work to build our understanding of Small Modular Reactors and whether they can play a role in the UK’s future energy mix. Other recommendations set out by the NIRAB speak to a sustained and longer-term programme of work and will therefore need to be considered as part of any future Government review of spending.

Ofgem

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the abolition of Ofgem.

Matthew Hancock: In Ofgem, we have an independent regulator which has shown that it is prepared to take strong enforcement action when necessary, imposing heavy fines on suppliers for licence breaches, and take decisive action to address consumer concerns about behaviour in the energy sector, such as its referral of the energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority.

UK Coal

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2015 to Question 220905, when he plans to announce his Department's decision on the provision of state aid to UK Coal in respect of Thoresby and Kellingley coal mines.

Matthew Hancock: The Government expects to announce a decision shortly.

Cabinet Office

Advertising

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's advertising and communications expenditure was in each month since September 2014; and what that expenditure is forecast to be in March 2015.

Mr Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Durham on 4 February 2015 to UIN: 222567

Internet

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the executive summary of the Government's Digital Inclusion Strategy, published in April 2014, what his latest estimate is of the proportion of the adult population who will never gain basic digital capabilities.

Mr Francis Maude: Latest estimates are that 10% of the adult population will never gain basic digital capabilities. We will update this figure as new data becomes available.

Art Works

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost was of removing existing artwork and installing new artwork from the Government Art Collection in the Office of the Chief Executive of the Civil Service.

Mr Francis Maude: Art from the Government Art Collection was installed in various offices in 70 Whitehall, including that of the new Chief Executive, as part of the ongoing programme to refurbish the building which began under the previous Government. Expenditure incurred in these circumstances is not identified separately on my Department's financial systems.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what reports have been produced on High Speed 2 by the Major Projects Authority; and what the (a) rating level and (b) date of publication has been of each such report.

Mr Francis Maude: The government’s Transparency Policy, published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/majorprojects-transparency-policy-and-exemptions-guidance, states that MPA will publish a delivery confidence assessment rating of projects on the Government Major Projects Portfolio in its Annual Report, six months in arrears. The Annual Report is published in Quarter 1 of the financial year. The 2013 and 2014 Annual Reports are available online.

Interpreters

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the proposed Framework Agreement for language interpretation services (a) on British Sign Language users and (b) generally; and what steps he plans to take to monitor the effects of that Agreement.

Mr Francis Maude: Through our commercial reforms the Government is delivering better value services at a lower cost. The new Language Services Framework Agreement will provide users of British Sign Language translators with a high-quality, cost-effective service that maintains national interpreting standards. Following extensive customer engagement over the past year, the Crown Commercial Service has amended the specification of requirements to address the points raised by stakeholders, including organisations representing the hearing impaired, users, suppliers and industry. The current specification, together with an update including responses to a number of frequently asked questions will be published shortly on GOV.UK.

Cancer

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the largest annual percentage reduction in cancer mortality levels was for (a) men and (b) women between 2004 and 2014.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Cancer Mortality Levels
(PDF Document, 106.74 KB)

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Public Appointments

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answers of 23 February 2015 to Questions 223627 and 223628, how many vacancies there are on posts for trustees and on executive boards for which he has responsibility; and what steps he is taking to fill vacancies on (a) VisitBritain, (b) VisitEngland, (c) the Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust and (d) other bodies.

Mrs Helen Grant: ​The Department is currently recruiting to fill 44 current and imminent vacancies on the Public Boards for which it is responsible. There are no current plans to fill Board vacancies on VisitEngland or Horniman Public Museum and Gardens. The Department is currently discussing board vacancies with Visit Britain.

Mobile Phones

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what mechanisms are in place to represent the interests of consumers in relation to the extent of mobile telephone coverage and prices in the event of changes to the number of mobile network operators.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Communications Act 2003 places a principal duty on Ofcom to further the interests of citizens and of consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition. Ofcom set and enforce regulatory rules for the communications sector and have powers to enforce competition law in those sectors, alongside the Competition and Markets Authority. The competition authorities will take all relevant evidence on market circumstances, including market consolidation moves and any remedies elsewhere, into account when considering mergers and acquisitions that affect the UK market.   Under the infrastructure report, Ofcom will continue to report to my Right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the coverage of communications networks across the UK and its nations, including publishing detailed maps of mobile network availability by operator. On 18 December my Right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a landmark agreement with the mobile network operators that they would extend mobile coverage to 90% of UK landmass by the end of 2017. This became a legally binding obligation in January 2015 through an amendment to the spectrum licences held by the mobile network operators.

Sports: Young People

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that 16 to 19 year olds have access to competitive sporting opportunities as (a) players and (b) volunteers or officials in specialist disability colleges.

Mrs Helen Grant: We provide a range of opportunities for disabled young people to get into playing, volunteering and official roles. Last year for example almost 29,000 young disabled people took part at Level 3 of the School Games (county festivals). Sport England also works closely with the Association of National Special Colleges (Natspec) to get more young disabled people playing sport. Learning from Sport England’s work with Natspec colleges is shared with colleges and sixth forms to support them. Further, Sport England is investing £401,153 in the English Learning Disability Sports Alliance, a partnership between Special Olympics GB and Mencap Sport. As part of this investment twelve new partnership networks, which include SEN colleges and schools, will offer new opportunities for people with a learning disability to regularly participate in sport.

House of Commons Commission

Meat

Glyn Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of the meat served in Parliament's restaurants in the last year had been sourced from animals slaughtered by non-stun methods.

John Thurso: House of Commons catering services do not purchase or serve any meat from animals slaughtered by non-stunned methods. House of Lords restaurants are a matter for that House; however, I understand that it takes a similar approach.

Deputy Prime Minister

Voting Rights: Young People

Nia Griffith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when he plans to publish the Government's response to the Youth Select Committee's report on lowering the voting age to 16.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government is still considering the Youth Select Committee's report and will respond in due course.

Department of Health

Hepatitis

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who his Department and NHS England have consulted on the implementation of a fast track interim policy for hepatitis C patients from April 2015.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which medicines his Department plans to include in the fast track interim policy for hepatitis C medicines.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the delivery of a fast track interim policy for hepatitis C medicines for patients who need it from April 2015.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that it is considering extending the current interim commissioning policy for Sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir (Harvoni) and another direct acting antiviral combination therapy for selected patients with cirrhosis associated with hepatitis C. The Department is not involved in this decision.   NHS England has completed the evidence review and finalised its draft proposals. In doing so, it has engaged with clinical and patient stakeholders from the national lead Clinical Reference Group. NHS England has advised that the aim is that interim commissioning policies will be in place by the first half of 2015.

Psychiatry: Standards

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department's Any Qualified Provider (AQP) programme guidance stipulates that before they are approved as AQPs by an NHS commissioning body, providers should only employ counsellors and psychotherapists who are (a) accredited with professional bodies and (b) accredited with professional bodies which are Accredited Voluntary Registers.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department's NHS Standard Contract stipulates any requirements for providers, before they are granted a contract by an NHS commissioning body, to only employ counsellors and psychotherapists who are (a) accredited with professional bodies and (b) accredited with professional bodies which are Accredited Voluntary Registers.

Jane Ellison: Where National Health Service commissioners commission any healthcare services other than primary care – including counselling and psychotherapy services – they must use the NHS Standard Contract.   The Contract specifically requires providers to ensure that staff are registered with the appropriate professional regulatory body (GC5.3.1) and have the appropriate qualifications, experience, skills and competencies (GC5.3.2).   The Contract is used for a very wide range of services involving many different professions, and it would not be appropriate – within the nationally mandated text of the Contract – to list all of the professions and their regulatory bodies. However, where commissioners are commissioning counselling or psychotherapy services, they would produce a local service specification to describe the service they wish to commission. Commissioners may choose to include more precise requirements, relevant to individual professional groups, within these specifications, which would in turn form part of their local contracts.   With respect to guidance issued by the Department relating to the ‘Any Qualified Provider’ (AQP) programme, it has been for individual clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) as independent, autonomous organisations to decide on how best to procure clinical services since April 2013. During 2013/14, the Department continued some central support for CCGs, making tools and information available to help them qualify providers onto local AQP frameworks. However this was a transitional measure, and since April 2014 the qualification of providers has been for CCGs to take forward with support from Commissioning Support Services, as appropriate.

Prisoners: Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the prison population affected by foetal alcohol syndrome or foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Norman Lamb: No estimate has been made by the Department.

Genetics: Screening

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that rare and less common cancers are represented as part of the 100,000 Genomes Project.

George Freeman: The cancers selected for inclusion in the 100,000 Genomes Project are breast, colon, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer. Genomics England will also be recruiting patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in collaboration with existing clinical trials. The Genomics England Science Committee chose these cancers on the basis that they are common and affect a very large number of people in the United Kingdom. The Protocol document for the Project outlines in detail the basis on which the specific cancers and the rare diseases were selected and this will soon be available on Genomics England’s website. Genomics England will be adding other cancers in the future.

Air Pollution: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in London have died as a result of air pollution in each year since 2010; and if he will estimate the number of such deaths in the next 10 years.

Jane Ellison: Estimates of the fraction of mortality in English local authority areas and regions attributable to long-term exposure to particulate air pollution arising from human activities are published by Public Health England as one of the indicators in the Department’s Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF). For London, this figure was approximately 7.2% in 2010 and 2011 and 6.6% in 2012; the figures for later years are not currently available. These estimates for later years will be published on an annual basis under the PHOF.

Directors

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which directors of his Department who have left that role in the last 10 years went on to work for (a) one of his Department's executive non-departmental public bodies and (b) Public Health England; and what their job titles and salary levels (i) were at his Department and (ii) are at their new organisation.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department is not required to hold details about the future employment of all its ex-employees. However, Crown servants, at all levels, are subject to rules on accepting outside appointments after leaving service. These rules apply to Directors for two years after their last day of service. The Department holds information about applications dating back to 2009 and during this period two Directors resigned from the Department to take up employment in one of our executive non-departmental bodies. 12 Directors transferred from the Department to either an executive non-departmental body or Public Health England on 1 April 2013.   The information about these 14 Directors is shown in the attached table.   The Department does not hold information about subsequent moves within or between these organisations unless it has been notified via an outside business application. The Department is not required to be informed about resignations. 



Ex-Directors - information table of new employment
(Word Document, 16.3 KB)

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent investment there has been in Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently visited the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and was pleased to be able to confirm that the Department has now earmarked £480 million of funding for redeveloping the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. The Department has recently provided £20.6 million of this funding to help progress the development.

Hospitals: Admissions

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many finished admission episodes were carried out between May 2010 and the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such procedures were carried out in the equivalent period in the previous Parliament.

Jane Ellison: In the first four years of this Parliament, between 1 May 2010 and 31 March 2014, which is the latest period for which data is available, there were around 59 million finished admission episodes.   During the first four years of the previous Parliament (between 1 May 2005 and 31 March 2009), there were around 52 million finished admission episodes.

NHS England

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2015 to Question 225086, how many employees of NHS England or people receiving financial reimbursement from NHS England have volunteered to chair clinical reference groups (CRGs); and which CRGs are being chaired by them.

Jane Ellison: No Clinical Reference Group (CRG) Chair receives financial reimbursement for their role as CRG Chair. Four CRG Chairs are also National Programme of Care Clinical Co-Chairs, all of whom are reimbursed in respect of their role as National Programme of Care Clinical Co-Chairs.   Those CRGs that have Chairs who are reimbursed for their role as National Programme of Care Clinical Co-Chairs are:   Hepatobiliary CRG; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services CRG; Neurosurgery CRG; and HIV CRG.

Cataracts

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many privately-funded cataract operations were conducted in NHS hospitals in England in 2013-14.

Jane Ellison: A total of 360,682 finished consultant episodes with a main or secondary procedure of cataract surgery were carried out in 2013-14; 3,6001 were provided to private patients in a National Health Service hospital.   These figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 1 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Radiotherapy

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many linear accelerators for radiotherapy treatment in the NHS are older than (a) eight and (b) 10 years; and how old the oldest linear accelerators currently in operation in the NHS in England is.

Jane Ellison: This data is not routinely collected.

Diabetes: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in each of the last five years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: This specific information is not collected centrally.   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines `Diabetes in children and young people: diagnosis and management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and young people’ states around 26,500 children and young people in the United Kingdom are estimated to have Type 1 diabetes needing insulin replacement therapy.   The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit collects and reports information from participating paediatric diabetes centres regarding their provision of diabetes care for the children and young people attending their services.   The Health and Social Care Information Centre collects information via the National Diabetes Audit and reports on the provision of core diabetes care. This does not however include a full picture of the number of children diagnosed with diabetes.

Cancer: Drugs

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans NHS England has to consult on the use of the National Cancer Drugs Fund clinical Scoring Tool to inform what treatments are available on the Cancer Drugs Fund; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: NHS England undertook a public consultation in 2014 on its standard operating procedures for the Cancer Drugs Fund – which included the prioritisation tool. The report of that consultation process is available at:   www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/cdf-consult-rep.pdf

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of whether the funding tariff options recently announced for mental health providers meet the Government's  objective of achieving parity of esteem between mental and physical health.

Norman Lamb: Monitor and NHS England are responsible for setting the National Tariff Payment System arrangements. The enhanced tariff options for 2015/16, which Monitor and NHS England have engaged National Health Service providers and commissioners on, give mental health providers the opportunity to accept a lower efficiency savings requirement of 3.5% on a par with acute providers and have access to £40 million of the parity of esteem funding being delivered through the 2015/16 tariff arrangements.   The 2015/16 National Tariff Payment System arrangements also include example payment models for mental health services and signal a move away from unaccountable block contracts to support providers to move to more transparent models of care that promote better patient outcomes and integration of mental and physical health.   We understand that 51 mental health providers have accepted the enhanced tariff option for 2015/16.   Irrespective of which tariff option mental health providers have chosen, NHS England published planning guidance for 2015/16 for commissioners which made the expectation clear that each clinical commissioning group’s (CCG’s) spending on mental health services in 2015/16 should increase in real terms, and grow by at least the same percentage as each CCG’s allocation increase. This is a significant step forward in achieving parity of funding for mental health services.

Patients: Transport

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on how many staff members employed by Arriva to deliver patient transport are paid less than the living wage.

Jane Ellison: This information is not held centrally.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies spent on consultancy services in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 to date.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department of Health has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Commissioning Support Units

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much commissioning support units spent on consultancy services in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 to date.

Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much clinical commissioning groups spent on consultancy services in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 to date.

Jane Ellison: Consultancy spend figures are available in NHS England’s annual accounts for 2013/14 which can be found at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/nhs-comm-board-ann-rep-1314.pdf   2014-15 accounts will be published in due course.   In 2013/14 the total spend by commissioning support units (CSUs) on consultancy support amounted to £41.5 million, which was 5% of CSU total income of £808 million. Data for 2014/15 is not yet available as final accounts are currently being prepared.

Soft Drinks: Sugar

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average sugar content in soft drinks was in (a) 2004 and (b) 2014.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not collect this information. However data from the Kantar Worldpanel 2014 dataset show that the sales-weighted average sugar content for soft drinks in 2014 was 4.1 grams per 100 ml. Information is not available for 2004.   Through our voluntary approach with the food and drink industry, we have cut billions of calories from soft drinks and we have made it easier to see how much sugar is in soft drinks with our colour coded front of pack nutrition labelling.

Knee Replacements

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support his Department provides to knee replacement patients who have been waiting longer than 12 months for treatment.

Jane Ellison: Patients in England have a right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions, or for the National Health Service to take all reasonable steps to offer range of suitable alternative providers if this is not possible and this is what the patient wants. Patients must contact the provider they have been referred to or their local clinical commissioning group before alternatives can be investigated. Anyone who is concerned about the length of time they have been waiting for an operation should discuss this with their general practitioner, particularly if their condition worsens.

Strokes

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much public funding has been spent on research on the care of stroke patients in England and Wales in the last five years.

George Freeman: David Simpson (Upper Bann): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much public funding has been spent on research on the care of stroke patients in England and Wales in the last five years. [226740] GEORGE FREEMAN The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds applied health research for the benefit of patients and the public, drives faster translation of basic science discoveries into tangible benefits for patients and the economy, and develops and supports the people who conduct and contribute to applied health research.   In the last five years, the NIHR has spent £114 million on stroke research. A breakdown of this expenditure is shown in the following table.   Funding streamResearch fundedSpend£ millionResearch programmesNational Health Service, social care and public health research to develop the evidence to support decision making by professionals, policy makers, patients and carers31.1Research fellowshipsResearch training and career development awards for established investigators and research leaders in health professions1.3Biomedical Research CentresTranslation of scientific developments into new or improved treatments, diagnostics and other interventions in clinical settings8.5Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and CareApplied health research transferable across the NHS to provide the highest quality patient care and outcomes8.4Clinical Research NetworkResearch support costs for clinical trials and studies64.7TOTAL 114